NEILSON: JUANMA NO BETTER THAN OTHERS

ROBBIE Neilson i nsists frozen-out frontman Juanma is not the answer to Hearts’ striking crisis.

The Jambos boss signed four new strikers during the summer but so far Tony Watt, Conor Sammon, Robbie Muirhead and Bjorn Johnsen have netted just four goals between them.

Yet Tynecastle boss Neilson reckons they are all better than Spanish hitman Juanma — currently back in his homeland after joining Second Division outfit UCAM Murcia on a season-long loan.

The former Alaves forward hit 13 goals for the Jambos last term but Neilson has ruled out recalling the 26-year-old in January.

He said: “Juanma i s there until the end of the season so we will deal with that next summer.

“It is up to the club that he moved to what happens next but the situation at the moment is that I feel we have better strikers here than bringing him back would offer us.”

Meanwhile, a queue of English clubs are now expected to battle for rightback Callum Paterson, but Neilson insists his club can afford to hold on to Paterson until his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

The Jambos will be due a compensation fee worth around £450,000 and Neilson, speaking before his side welcome Motherwell to Edinburgh tomorrow, said: “It’s not inevitable that Callum will go in January.”